Can top label



June 14, 1938. GODFREY I 2,120,403

CAN TOP LABEL Filed June 25, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR TORNEYS Jun'e 14, 1938. TM. GODFREY CAN TOP LABEL Filed June 23, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY S Patented June 1'4, 1938 to Lever Brothers Maine Company, a corporation of Application June 2a, 1936, Serial No. 86,734

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to improved means for attaching labels to the top of sealed containers and the utilization of the labels to retain recipe or advertising pamphlets on the containers.

Such pamphlets are often supplied by the manufacturer of the product to the distrlbutorfor the purpose of instructing the consumer as to the uses and the best manner of use of the product.

The pamphlets are usually supplied separately and it is intended that the retailer should distribute them to the purchaser of. the product. The retailer often neglects to do this and. sometimes even destroys the pamphlets. Also the customer is quite likely to and often does lose the pamphlet before reading the same and thus the manufacturer is unable to instruct the customer as to all the uses of which his product is susceptible.

To overcome this dimculty, it has been proposed toattach the pamphlet to the container with an adhesive or to enclose the pamphlet inthe container. The former procedure is unsatisfactory because the pamphlet, being unprotected, may be torn loose and also frequently becomes soiled and unsightly. Packing the pamphlet within the container is possible only when the product in, the container is dry, and therefore is not satisfactory if the product has wetting or soiling characteristics.

The present invention overcomes the difliculties heretofore encountered in properly supplying the purchaser with such pamphlet, and provides, a

simple and effective manner of applying instructions and information to the container. Furthermore, the present invention permits a quick and simple method for attaching the label and enclosing the pamphlet.

The vast majority of the containers now manufactured are provided with a recessed head portion sealed in the end of the container by means of a clinched or rolled flange, the flange extending in alignment with the walls of the container. These containers may be opened in various ways, some being provided with a tear-strip which may be removed to detach the head and flanges from the container body and others necessitating the use of a can opener to remove the container head. With my means for attaching the label, either type of container may be used, the only variation from the ordinary flanged container residing in a change in cross-sectional shape of the flange to produce with the container head an annular that of the recess.

A disk, forming my label, is inserted within the flange of thecontainer, the disk :being of greater diameter than the diameter of the restricted opening defined-by the flange. If desiredthe label may be of greater diameter than the greatest diameter of the recessformed by or in the flange. In this way the resiliency, of the label-may be utilized to aid in retaining the label within the inturned flanges. The resiliency of the disk and the restricted size of the opening of the recess firmly and positively retains the label adjacent the head of and within the perimeter of the container. This constructionpermits ready stacking of the containersflthere being no portions projecting beyond the perimeter of the container.

The pamphlet is placed between the disk and the head of the container and is thus retained and protected, yet is readily available at all times.

The label itself may be provided with instructions concerning the location of the pamphlet, and in the case of a tear-strip can, the location of the attached key, which is preferably under the label.

The label may be made of still cardboard, heavy transparent material such as Cellophane", metal foil on cardboard, or any combination of them. It may, if desired be provided with a transparent opening thereby rendering the pamphlet visible through the label.

Furthermore, advertising matter or decorations may be applied to the label, thus improving its appearance, and that of the container.

For a better understanding of my construction, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container,

with the label partially broken away to show the key and pamphlet applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a sectional view, taken on line 2- -2 of Figure 1, of the container partly broken away;

modification of the container partly broken away;

and

Figure 8 is a sectional view of a further modification of the container, partly broken away.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a conventional container body 2 is provided with a head' l, .hav-

ing a flat center portion 6 and reversely curved edges 8, forming a shoulder I0. The edge 8 of head 4 and the edge ll of container 2 are rolled over-to produce a bead and flange I2 forming a recess in the end of the container 2. During or at the conclusion of the rolling operation this flange I2 is bent slightly inwardly adjacent the shoulder I! to restrict the opening of the recess, as best shown in Fig. 2.

Attached to the head 4 by spot welding is a conventional key l4, on top of or around which may be placed the pamphlet l6 containing recipesor instructions. I a A label l8 of slightly greater diameter than the opening of the recess within the flange I2 is flexed and snapped into the recess adjacent the head where it is retained by the overhanging flange, thus also holding pamphlet I6 on the head 4. If desired the label I 8 may be of a greater diameter than the diameter of the recess adjacent the shoulder I0, so that the resiliency of label ill will cause it to bear against the flange l2 and be retained by the latter in fixed "position.

As best shown in Fig. 1, the label l8 may be provided with a scored tongue 20, which is to be pressed down to provide an aperture for gripping and removing the label is from within the flange l2.

A modification of my label consisting of a disk 22, having a metal rim 24 clinched over its edge is shown in Fig. 3.

Inna further modification disclosed in Fig. 4,

the label 20- may be provided with a resilient wire reenforcement 28, the edge 30 of the label 26 being wrapped around the wire 28 to providea beaded edge. These modified labels are applied to the container in' the same manner as label l8 and are particularly satisfactory when used with contaners of large diameter because the reenforced edge portions stiffen the label and retain it beneath and within the flange.

While it will be understood that any of these labels are preferably used in conjunction with container heads having internal shoulders I0 such as disclosed in Fig. 2, they may also be used with containers like that disclosed at 32 in Fig. 5, having a head 34 which is flat throughout its entireextent between the flanges 36, the head 34 itself acting as a shoulder in conjunction with the inwardly bent flanges.

The construction of the container and flange may also be varied, as in the modification disclosed in Figs. 6 to 8.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 6, the container bodyTlI, is provided with 8. rolled flange 42, having an annular groove 44 rolled therein adjacent the head'46.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. '7 the container body is provided with a rolled flange 52, having an annular groove 54 rolled in the flange and spaced slightly from the head 56.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 8 the container body is provided with a beaded rolled flange 62, the bead projecting inwardly over the 'head 64, thereby producing a recess having a restricted opening in which a label may be inserted.

Each of the modified forms of containers 40,

' ill and 60 thus has a recess having a restricted opening at one end which is produced by the change in shape of the flanges 42, 52 and 62, respectively; and therefore receives and holds a label such as any of those disclosed in Figs. 1, 3

' and 4.

A pamphlet may be inserted between the label and the head of the container in the manner described in connection with the container disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2.

It will be understood that other variations: my be made in my construction, and that my invention therefore should not be limited by the foregoing, but only by the scope of the following claims.

'I claim:

1. In combination with a container having closed ends; a flange surrounding one end and forming therewith a recess having a restricted opening, ,a label of greater diameter than the restricted opening within the recess and re-- tained therein by the flange, said label having a,

scored portion defining a depressible tongue and a pamphlet between said one end and the label.

2. In combination with a container having closed ends, and a key for opening the container detachably connected to one end; a flange surrounding said one end and forming therewith a recess having a restricted opening, a pamphlet in said recess adjacent said key, and a label of greater diameter than the restricted opening within the recess and overlying the key and pamphlet, said label having a designation indicating the presence of the key and pamphlet, therebeneath.

3. In combination with a container having closed ends and a key for opening the container 1 detachably connected to one end; a flange surrounding said one end and forming therewith a recess having a restricted opening, a pamphlet in said recess adjacent said key and a label of greater diameter than the restricted opening within the recess and overlying the key and pamphlet, said label having a transparent section to render the pamphlet and key visible.

4. In combination with a container having closed ends; a flange surrounding one end and forming therewith a recess having a restricted opening, a label of greater diameter than the restricted opening within the recess and retained therein by the flange, said label having a reenforced edge, and a pamphlet between said one end and the label.

5. In combination with a container having closed ends; a flange surrounding one end and forming therewith a recess having a restricted opening, a depression in the mid-portion of said one end forming a shoulder adjacent the flange, a pamphlet in the depression, and a label of greater diameter than the restricted opening within the recess in engagement with the shoulder and overlying the pamphlet.

6. In combination with a can having closed ends, a flange surrounding one of said ends, said flange having an annular recess therein partially defined by a shoulder projecting from the end of the can and a label having a greater dimension than the opening defined by the flange adjacent the recess and adapted to be retained in said annular recess and bearing against the shoulder whereby the label is maintained in spaced rela tionship to the said end and forms therewith a compartment.

7. In combination with a can having closed ends; a flange surrounding one of said ends, said flange having an annular recess spaced from said closed end and a label having a greater dimension than the said flange opening and adapted to be retained in said annular recess whereby the label is maintained in spaced relationship to the said end and a compartment provided.

TRUMAN M. GODFREY. 

